Cadaver Surgical Training in Japanese Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery : The Need for Grant Support by Academic Societies for Public Recruitment of Participants

Abstract

 Cadaver surgical training (CST) improves surgical safety by creating opportunities to improve surgical skill. We retrospectively analyzed post-CST reports from 2019 to 2023 to assess the status and challenges of CST in the plastic surgery department. We investigated the number of facilities, CST events, fixation methods, affiliations of the participants (own facility, affiliated facilities, other facilities, public recruitment), income and expenditure of CST programs, and financial resources. In 2023, 19 facilities and 41 events were held. We found a significant increase in the number of CST events held. Surgical training on various flap elevations and facial and limb anatomical dissections was frequently performed. In-house-style CST programs were performed more frequently than public recruitment-style CST programs. Most in-house CST events were funded by operating expenses within a facility. To expand participation opportunities, the establishment of a financial support system linked to public recruitment would be effective. Although regulations are needed to ensure fairness from application to selection and in the pre- and post-selection reviews, we believe that the training of young surgeons is an important use of funding by the Japanese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.